Most of us have seen news reports about workplace surveillance, cyberstalking, ransomware attacks, and facial recognition and ignore them willfully, but know deep down that our privacy is disappearing in the face of wondrous technological marvels. But it is never too late to protect your own privacy, even for those who don’t want to live off the grid without cell phones or internet access. Written in blunt jargon-free prose, ON PRIVACY: Twenty Lessons to Live By (Workman Publishing; March 4, 2025; $20 Hardcover) by Lawrence Cappello defines today's privacy landscape while also reminding readers of the joys of keeping things to ourselves.
Authored by an award-winning professor of U.S. legal & constitutional history and a certified information privacy professional (CIPP/US & CIPM) ON PRIVACY helps readers understand and explains clearly why privacy matters and explains in brief digestible chapters how you can better protect your privacy while still enjoying the pleasures and conveniences of the modern world, for example: Worried about your private information being shared on the internet? All of your devices have privacy settings. Take five minutes to learn how to use them. A few quick adjustments can make a real difference in protecting your personal information. When locking your phone, go with an old-fashioned four- or six-digit passcode over biometrics like Face ID and fingerprint readers. It’s getting easier to replicate faces and thumbprints. It remains harder to hack someone’s brain.What about your online history and reputation? The idea of retaking control over your personal data may feel overwhelming, but it’s easier than you think. For a fee, online reputation management professionals will scour the internet on your behalf to identify who has your information, get it deleted or corrected, and continue monitoring your online persona as new items pop up. It’s called ORM (online reputation management). Look it up and see if it’s a fit for you.What about protecting your friends’ and loved ones’ privacy?Be a privacy-conscious friend on social media. Don’t tag people in photos or share their location without their permission. Nor should you post personal information they’ve shared with you—like a pregnancy, or a new job, or a major new purchase—without their permission. Treat their privacy like it’s your own and they’ll likely do the same for you.


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